Two doctors have issued separate calls asking for Island HealthB次元官网网址檚 chief medical officer to resign in the wake of continued issues plaguing the delivery of health care on northern Vancouver Island

Port HardyB次元官网网址檚 Dr. Alex Nataros posted on his official Twitter account that due to B次元官网网址減hysician harrassment and ongoing dereliction of duty to meet basic job responsibility to provide medical leadershipB次元官网网址� he is calling for B次元官网网址渢he resignation of Dr. Ben Williams.B次元官网网址�

Meanwhile, Port McNeill physician Dr. Prean Armogam, who has been living and working in the North Island for 17 years, echoed that sentiment.

B次元官网网址淭he brokeness [of the North Island health-care system] needs to stop,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淭his has been going on for a long time, and there is no confidence in the competence of the senior executive to actually administer change on a successful level. They havenB次元官网网址檛 been helpful, they havenB次元官网网址檛 been listening, and patients have been suffering.B次元官网网址�

Health care facilities in Port Hardy, Port McNeill, and nearby Alert Bay have been struggling with repeated staffing shortages, leading to multiple temporary closures and service disruptions.

Armogam said Island HealthB次元官网网址檚 response has ultimately been a B次元官网网址渉ot potato approach - itB次元官网网址檚 poorly thought out, itB次元官网网址檚 not planned, and it puts patients at risk.B次元官网网址�

He said heB次元官网网址檚 been dealing with Island HealthB次元官网网址檚 poor treatment of physicians since 2020, when he went public with concerns, and was subsequently forced into stepping down from his position as medical director for the Regional District of Mount Waddington.

B次元官网网址淚t was because I stood up for myself about issues regarding privilege and race, and I was labelled as a troublemaker B次元官网网址� The moment you point out deficiencies you get labelled as disruptive or not following the rules, but at the same time, thereB次元官网网址檚 been a complete lack of accountability from [Island Health].

B次元官网网址淚n more recent times, [Island Health] has not been present, theyB次元官网网址檙e not listening, and with all the hospital closures and diversions, theyB次元官网网址檝e been lacking in support for Port Hardy doctors.B次元官网网址�

Nataros said strained relationships are chasing away current staff and getting in the way of recruiting. He pointed to how he waited for weeks to hear from Williams about a promised action plan to deal with physician concerns. Instead, when Williams finally contacted him, it was with an unexpected cold call about how Nataros was using his dog as a therapy dog, against Island Health policy.

Black Press Media also viewed emails from a third local doctor, working on an expired contract and intending to turn over his practice to someone else, only to be frustrated by lack of Island Health feedback and guidance on how to do that.

B次元官网网址淲hat is my new contract status at present? What do I have for job security from you? What is the recruitment status of new physicians so that I may transition my patients to new physicians?B次元官网网址� the physician wonders.

Island HealthB次元官网网址檚 President and CEO Kathy MacNeil said in a statement that Williams has her complete and continued confidence.

B次元官网网址淎s CEO, I expect Dr. Williams B次元官网网址� as the Chief Medical Officer for Island Health B次元官网网址� to fully investigate when concerns arise about the quality of care delivered by a member of the medical staff,B次元官网网址� she wrote. B次元官网网址淚sland Health in general, and Dr. Williams in particular, has a responsibility under the medical staff bylaws to ensure patient safety and to fully investigate when concerns arise.

B次元官网网址�(Physicians) are well aware of the mechanisms available to them to raise their concerns, including through their Medical Staff Association.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎t Island Health, our focus remains on stabilizing health-care services in the North Island through the significant commitment recently announced by the Ministry of Health, to build a foundation for the future. We are committed to do this working collaboratively with all of our partners B次元官网网址� including the local physician community.

B次元官网网址淭his is what North Island patients and communities, and our care teams, need and deserve.B次元官网网址�

editor@northislandgazette.com
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